Movement of Air

1. Movement of Air

2. Wind Formation: • Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth and its atmosphere • These temperature differences lead to the creation of high pressure and low pressure areas • Wind – the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

3. Cause of Temperature Differences: • Tilt in orbit around the sun • Curved surface of the Earth • Equator receives the most radiation, poles receive the least

4. Density of Air: • Warm air is less dense than cold air so it rises • Cold air sinks and moves along the Earth’s surface

5. Coriolis Effect: • The tendency of a moving object to follow a curved path rather than a straight one due to Earth’s rotation •  Only perceived, the object/air is moving along a straight line, but the air is moving underneath it

7. Doldrums: • Windless zone of the equator due to hot air rising straight up

8. Trade Winds: • From the equator to 30 degrees latitude North or South, air descending on the Earth’s surface creates steady winds

9. Westerlies: • From 30 degrees to 60 degrees, wind moves from west to east, responsible for movement of weather in the US

10. Easterlies: • Cold air that blows from the Northeast to Southwest near the poles

13. Jet Stream • Narrow belt of strong winds near top of troposphere, blow from west to east, average 60-110 miles per hour, position changes daily and seasonally, major effect on weather

14. Local Winds: • Concept: Land heats up and cools down faster than water

15. Land Breeze: • Wind blowing from land to sea during the night • Caused by: • Water cools off slower so it warms the air above it causing it to rise • Air above land moves in to replace it

16. Sea Breeze: • Wind blowing from sea to land during the day • Caused by: • Land warmed faster by the sun • Air warmed above land rises • Air above water moves in to replace it